Bringing back into work / living out

[Glitterbabygold]

Hi all! I just wanted some advice really or if anyone has any experience with this topic.
There is a horse that has been living out for about 11 months and all of that time has been off work too. He is about 16'2 ish and is not really a good dooer as I have to constantly rotate him between paddocks to maintain his weight. He has been retired at 15 from a line of service previously used as a school master, is as healthy as can be although could do with a little weight gain.

Ok more to the point lol.
I am as of today bringing him back into work because I want to rehome him and in order to ride him I have a couple of weeks to get him working again lunging/bungee etc.
my question is... How do I slowly adjust his diet to support him and what with while I bring him back into work he has only had grass all summer and haylage during won't living out 24/7 for 11 months. Do I start off with hay daily and then building up to hard feed? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I have never dealt with bringing back a horse from living out all year round.

Thank you

 

[be positive]

If he doesn't have access to enough grass to maintain his weight then I would give him adlib hay or haylage at this stage, if he won't eat that then you may have to give a fibre based feed to get the calories in to put on some condition but I would start with hay.

After 11 months off I wouldn't be lunging him, other than possibly to ensure he is not going to throw in a buck the first time he feels the saddle on again, although as a schoolmaster I would expect him to be relatively calm about it, he really requires a month of walking in straight lines, hacking, to get his muscles building up before even considering lunging in a bungee if you want to give him the best chance of coming back into work, if you want to rehome him there is no rush to push him beyond what he should be doing the right home will appreciate he has been off for a long while and will be prepared to continue to bring him back into work slowly.

 

[Glitterbabygold]

Thank you. I really don't mind how long it takes to bring him back i am in no rush I just needed you guys advice on the best way to do it. I'm sure there will be a few different opinions on how to do it and I will surely take your advice on board thank you.
I have not used any tack on him at this stage and have walked him in the school a few times.
Adlib hay/haylage sounds like a good start he will definitely eat it I just wonder at what point do I start to give him feed/balancer